Signal



F. M. VARNEY May 31, 1932.

SIGNAL Filed Jan. 26. 1929 3 SheefbS-Sheet 7 /ffV Attorney F. M. VARNEY May 31, 1932.

S IGNAL Filed Jan. 26, 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet4 2 Inventor III. l T

Y A L F- R llllllll//l/ A itorney May 31 1932- F. M. VARNEY 1,860,559

I SIGNAL I Filed Jan. 26, .-1.929V 3 SheetS-Shet, 5

Patented -Mayy 31 1932 PATENT QFFICE FBANKVM. VARNEY,OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA SIGNAL Application led January 26, 1929. Serial No. 335,308.

Broadly' this invention pertains to improvements in the artof electrical signalling means and more'particularly the invention has reference to improvements in signals for railroad crossings.

The rincipa object of the invention is to provide a signal of this character in the form of a policeman or other oiiicer of authority for use in directing traic at railroad crossings or street intersections.

Another salient object is to provide a signal which will not onl produce visible indicating means but audi leas well.

Still vanother object of importance is to provide a signal which is electrically operated and substantially automatic in use. y

Still another object to be considered resides in providing a si al having semaphore arms with means associated therewith whereby the arms' will be always lowered to the l sides of the support after the actuating means has been shut oi.

f These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to the reader after considering the invention as described andclaimed hereinafter.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved signal. 3 Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view through the novel si nal.v

Figure 3 represents a iagrammatic view showing the various connections between the elements of the invention.

Figure 4 represents an enlarged sectional view throu h a fragmentary portion of the invention isclosing certain details of construction.

Figure 5 represents a bottom plan view of the detachable connection between the semaphore arms and the means for operating the said arms.

Figure 6 represents a top plan view of the reciprocatory member operable within the body for imparting motion to the semaphore arms.

Figure 7 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the shoulder portion of the figure to disclose the automatic 50 asher switch construction.

forni for the iigure generally referred to by numeral 3. This figure is preferably in the form of a man and has suitable designs thereon devised to simulate a policeman.

The shoulder portions of the figure are formed with openings 4, through which the upper portions of the arms 5--5 extend and which are pivotally connected within the body by suitable pins 6.

The arms 5-5 are of hollow construction and are formed with hands 7. Each hand has its opposite sides formed with openings within which suitable windows 8 are itted, while Within the hand of each arm7 a block 9 of insulating material supports a. lamp socket 10, within which a suitable lamp 11 may be secured. The upper ends of the arms 5-5 are formed Withpassageways 12 through which the conductor wires from the lamp 11 nny be trained for disposition within the bo y 3. Each arm 5 is provided at its inner end with an upwardly disposed arcuate shank 13, slotted at the free end portion. A Y-member 1i has its upstanding diverging arm portions connected at their extremities to the free end portions of the Shanks 13.

The arm portions of the members 14 carry suitable pins at their extremities for slidable engagement in the slots of the Shanks.

The depending leg portion of the member 14 connects to an electro-solenoid 15, and this solenoid carries a hanger 16. The hanger is constructed with opposing depending legs 17-17 which carry pivotal pawls generally referred to by numeral 1S. These pawls each consist of an arm 19 pivotally connected at its lower end to the extremity of one of the legs 17 and pivotally connected at the same point is a claw 20. This claw is normally maintained extended by means of a spring 21 interposed between the claw and the arm 19. A link bar 22 connects the upper end of each arm 19 to the lower end of the core 23 of the solenoid 13.

Mounted within the body 3 and sup orted by suitable brace members 24 is a cylin er 25, disposed in vertical position and having a piston 26 slidable therein. The piston 26 has its top side pocketed as at 27, and from the central portion of the bottom of this pocket a protuberance 28 projects upwardly and is provided with a head 29, under which the claws 20 are adapted to engage.

The lower portion of the cylinder 25 merges into an enlarged housing 30. This housing rotatably supports a gear wheel 3l and a worm 32, in mesh with said gear.

The worm 32 is vertically disposed and is connected to the electrical motor 33 through a reducing gear mechanism 34.

Within the head portion 35 of the figure a cross member 36 supports a bell 37. The bell 37 is connected to opposite sides of the current source 38 in the manner shown in Figure 3.

A plate of insulating material 39 is secured within the body and a casing 40 mounted thereon houses a pair of contacts 41-41. A button 42 having a convexed outer sur-- face is provided with a shank 43, disposed through an opening in the casing 40 for e11- gagement with the outermost contact 41, and

for engaging said contacts when the shank 13' of one of the arms 5 rides acrossl the convexed surface of the button 42.

Now having particular reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the insulated rail Sections 44-44 of the railway are connected through a relay circuit which includes the relay 45 and the suitable current source 46. The armature 46 of the relay is adapted to be actuated by the energization of the relay coil for closing the circuit through the timer 47. The timer predeterminedly controls the duration vin operation of the mechanism aforementioned which includes a lamp 48 supported within the body for illuminating transparent pane 49 in the front side of the gure.

The mechanism further includes a lamp 11 in each hand which is not only controlled by the timer 47 but by the intermittent switch disclosed in Figure 7. This switch also controls the bell 37 and the light 48.

It will thus be seen that when the circuit is closed by the bridging of the rails 44-44 by a piece of rolling stock, the solenoid 15 will become energized and the motor 33 will drive the piston 26 upwardly. The head 29 will engage the resilient claws 20 and will thus connect the piston with the connection between the arms 5 5. The connection will then be moved reciprocatorily with the piston, resulting in the vertical swinging of the arms 5-5.

When the relay circuit of the trackway is broken or the timer circuit broken, the solenoid 15 will become de-energized. The weight of the solenoid armature 23 will break the links downwardly in the member shown in the diagrammatic View of Figure 3, which will obviously displace the claws 20 from beneath the head 29. Thus the arms 5-5 will be permitted to descend to the normal position beside the body 3, regardless of the position of the piston 26 within the cylinder 25.

It is throught that the foregoing description verifies the automatic nature of the mechanism characterized b the objects opening this specification an that the same will be very efficient and durable in use, without beinff expensive to manufacture, and without being subject to frequent defects.

It is also to be understood that certain changes in the specific shape, size and materails may bc resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a signal, a supporting body, swinging arms pivoted to the body, an electric motor in said body, a guide. in said body, a reciproeating operating member mounted in the guide, means operatively connecting the motor with the reciprocating o erating member, whereby the member will e operated when the motor is energized, a head having a. pin and slot connection with the arms extending toward the reciprocating operating member, and a releasable electromagnetic latch carried by the head engaging the reciprocating member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

FRANK M. VARNEY. 

